Choosing NFO or pilot pipeline (+ bonus: High Flight Threadjack)

[A4sForever]

gaijin, was that really necessary? Its a good read and I have been active on this forum for years and it it my first time to see it.

Then perhaps you need to get off your high horse and pay more attention (?) :

Air Warriors 10/22-23/2005

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God."......

High Flight was composed by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born in Shanghai, China in 1922, the son of missionary parents, Reverend and Mrs. John Gillespie Magee; his father was an American and his mother was originally a British citizen.

He came to the U.S. in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF and was graduated as a pilot. He was sent to England for combat duty in July 1941.

In August or September 1941, Pilot Officer Magee composed High Flight and sent a copy to his parents. Several months later, on December 11, 1941 his Spitfire collided with another plane over England and Magee, only 19 years of age, crashed to his death.

His remains are buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.

I have had it on my wall for 30 years ..... Let us hope most of us do as well as Pilot Officer Magee ........

 

[KBayDog]

And, let's not forget these two:

3/18/07
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showpost.php?p=308392&postcount=53

Retread ... O.K. .... you KNOW that I "love you" ... and respect your job and position in Naval Aviation .... as I've defended the position of NFO (especially B/N's) on more than one occasion on this website ... AND I've flown single seat and multi-crew ..... and not too many herein can say that .... BUT:

But fly or ride ????? You cannot "feel" the bird if you can't "fly" her ... and here's why:

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
__________________
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE ... THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME ...

2/2/05 (Yes, before he joined, but within this decade.)
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showpost.php?p=114650&postcount=37

I should have put this in the original post ... rest easy, Brother Pete ...

High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
KIA 11 December 1941
__________________
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE ... THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME ...

Sorry, Bruddah - I couldn't resist!

 

[A4sForever]

And, let's not forget these two:
.....Sorry, Bruddah - I couldn't resist!

Hey, no problem-0, younger Bruddah. High Flight obviously made an impression on me.

You just made the point of posts and reposts in spades, however .... MAHALO!!

 

[KBayDog]

Last word.

 

[A4sForever]

Last word.

Of course ... I wouldn't have it any other way.